What They Asked For

Graham Kavanagh really couldn’t have done much more to convince the Carlisle board that he’s the man for the job could he?

Not only did he oversee the first league one win of the season at Sheffield United last week he masterminded the 3-1 win at Stevenage at the weekend to leave him with a perfect record in caretaker charge.

Will that get him the job?

He’s not sure but he knows that he’s definitely done what was asked of him (with the players doing likewise from what was asked of him) and is happy with the achievements of himself and his staff whatever the outcome was going to be with his stance as Greg Abbott’s replacement…

Following the game Kavanagh said: ‘I’m extremely pleased with the response I’ve had from the players, staff, chairman and fans and it’s lovely to give them what they ask you for.

‘I think I’ve shown whether I get the job or not that the staff and I are capable of doing it. Whatever the club chooses to do I will keep doing my job and see what this week holds.

‘I set the players a challenge to see if they could get the second win in a row and they did it.

‘We’ve got six points out of six and to be honest it was about taking pressure off the players and that often happens when there’s a change in manager.’

As far as the game goes, Kavanagh got a better response than even he thought he might have when we lost the lead. A “shut up shop” and accept what was on offer could have been taken, but the concession of an equaliser didn’t see this the case at all and two late goal won it.

He added: ‘We knew it would be a tough game and credit to the boys we didn’t let our heads drop when we conceded.

‘I thought tactically we could shut up shop and hope they didn’t get too much of the ball.’

One way or the other I’d expect a permanent appointment to be made by the time Carlisle next play, at this stage you would have to expect that Kavanagh is the man for this wouldn’t you?